From the observation point at Pardee Lake in the foothills east of Stockton, this is the view looking north on Wednesday. Many lakes are still very low in California, but Pardee is 82 percent full. The recent rains have also greeened the lands around the lake.

(03-06) 11:24 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- A storm raced through the Bay Area overnight, bringing lightning to some locations before giving way to clearing skies Thursday.

Rainfall was heaviest in the North Bay - Middle Peak, just west of Larkspur in Marin County, measured 1.85 inches of rainfall, and many other spots north of the Golden Gate received more than half an inch, said Diana Henderson, a forecaster with the National Weather Service.

Totals dwindled as the system moved south. San Francisco collected just over a third of an inch and Oakland picked up about a quarter of an inch. San Jose and much of the South Bay were left mostly dry, with many locations receiving only trace amounts, according to the weather service.

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A few lightning strikes also were reported, including from amateur spotters in Martinez and Lafayette shortly before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The weather knocked out power to some 3,900 customers in Contra Costa County around 10:45 p.m. when a tree branch fell on some power lines. Electricity was restored to all customers by about 5 a.m., said Pacific Gas and Electric Co. spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian.

The rain was mostly gone by dawn. Skies are expected to remain clear until Saturday night, when a similar system could bring another quarter to half an inch of rain to most locations.

Henderson cautioned that it probably won't "be anything to write home about."

Despite the recent storms, San Francisco remains far behind seasonal norms for rainfall. The city has received 8.39 inches since the rain year began July 1, compared with an average of nearly 19 inches by this date.